Edmonton hosts national sitting volleyball camp May 9-12

CALGARY (March 21, 2013)- Volleyball Canada announced today the Team Canada Sitting Volleyball Selection Camp will be held May 9-12 in Edmonton at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

The Selection Camp will be open for all athletes with a disability; however, there will also be the first ever Sitting Volleyball National Championship happening at the same time. The National Championship is open to everyone and will feature able-bodied and athletes with a disability.

The Selection Camp will consist of on-court training sessions and participation in the Sitting Volleyball National Championship. The National Championship will be mandatory for all athletes interested in playing on Team Canada and will feature able-bodied and athletes with a disability. Depending on number of registrants, the tournament will also probably be co-ed. This National Championship will be the first of its kind in Canada and will allow coaches and High Performance Staff to further evaluate potential National Team athletes and see them in a competition environment.

Schedule Outline:

Wednesday, May 8: Athletes arrive (evening)

Thursday, May 9: Training On-Court

Friday, May 10: Training On-Court

Saturday, May 11: National Championship

Sunday, May 12: National Championship/ Athletes depart (evening)

There will be fee associated with the Selection Camp and Tournament as outlined below:

Current National Team Athlete $50.00

Prospective National Team Athlete (no accommodation needed) $75.00

Prospective National Team Athlete (with accommodation) $250.00

National Championship only (no accommodation) $40/athlete (you can register as a team or as an individual).

Athletes are responsible for their own travel and accommodation while in Edmonton. Volleyball Canada has a select number of rooms available in Edmonton on a first come, first serve basis.

Any athletes interested in the Selection Camp and/or Sitting Volleyball National Championship can contact Ian Halliday at ihalliday@volleyball.ca to register or for more information.

Sitting volleyball, which is a Paralympic Games and Para Pan Am Games sport, is a modified version of indoor volleyball for athletes with a disability. The court is smaller and the net lower which results in a fast-paced game that requires players to react quickly not only with their hands but be swift on the floor as well.